Life-boat.



Patented Nov. 28, I899. L. W. MYERS,

LIFE BOAT.

2 Sheets '(No Model.)

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Patented Km). 28, I899.

L. w. MYERS.

LIFE BOAT. (Applicxition filed Apr. 1'7, 1899.)

2 Sheets$heet 2.

(No Model.)

INITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LORING WILLIS MYERS, OF LUBEO, MAINE.

LIFE-BOAT;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,940, dated November as, 1899.

Application filed April 17, 1899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LORING WILLIS Mvnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lubec, in the county of Washington and State of Maine, have invented anew and useful Life- Float, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in life-floats. I The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of life-floats and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive one adapted to be successfully launched from a vessel in any manner and capable of righting itself in any kind of a sea and of sheltering its occupants to prevent them from I being injured by exposure.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a life-float of this character which will accommodate a maximum number of persons with safety and which may be navigated when the weather permits.

Another object of the invention is to provide a life-float which will be entirely closed and which will be adapted to have either its top or bottom serve as a hull to facilitate launching and to prevent accidents resulting from it being overturned in heavy seas.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed outin the claims hereto appended. V

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a life-float constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, .the life-float being rigged for sailing. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the draw- 1ngs.

1 designates a reversible life-float consisting of a hollow shell having its ends 2 and 3 tapered to a point, and the top 4 and bottom 5 are substantially flat and have a slight curve transversely of the float to presenta slightly rounded or convex face to the water; but the inner faces of the top and bottom of the shell are perfectly fiat, and either is adapted to form the floor of the float, so that the float may be launched in any position. The float pole into the tube.

Serial No. 713,401. (No model.)

is provided at opposite sides with upper and lower bilge-keels 6, projecting from the top and bottom of the shell at the side walls thereof and terminating short of the bow and stern, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and adapted to hold the float on its course in sailing.

Access is had to the interior of the float by means of longitudinally-alined doors 7 and 8,

arranged in pairs and located equidistant of the center of the float, and each door, which is preferably circular, is tapering or conical and fits in a flared opening of the shell and is hinged at its outer side at 9. The doors are provided at their inner faces with locking-levers 10, hinged at one end to the doors and provided at the other end with an arm or hook 11 for engaging a keeper 12. The levers are each constructed of a single piece of metal having one end doubled on itself to provide a short substantially L-shaped fulcruming-arm 13 and to form a bend which is linked into an eye of the door; but the lever may be constructed in any other suitable manner. When the doors are closed, their outer faces are flush with the outer surface of the lifefloat, and by being tapered they form a solid construction and do not weaken the float. In order to render them perfectly water-tight, the doors are provided with a packing or gasket, which is compressed between the doors and the Walls of the openings when the former are closed.

The float is provided with a centrally-arranged vertical tube 14, forming a conduit for air and adapted to serve as a socket or step for a mast or a signal-pole and also serving to support and strengthen the hull. It is provided at its ends with valves15, and it has short tubes 15, arranged in pairs and located near the top and bottom of the float, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings. These short tubes 15 deliver air to the interior of the shell, and means may be provided for pumping air through the vertical tube. ing preferably threaded in the ends of the tube 14, so that they may be readily detached when it is desired to step a mast or signal- The rise and fall of the float on the sea will produce a circulation of air through the tubes 14 and 15, the valve The valves 15 are removable, be-

, designed to contain provisions, clothing, and

at the top of the tube 14 opening as the float rises and closing as the float falls. The short tubes, which are located near the top and bottom of the float, have their terminals extended upward and downward in the direction of the said top and bottom to prevent water from running through them while the float is pumping air.

Air-tubes 17, which extend through the top and bottom of the float, are arranged at opposite sides of the central vertical tube and disposed in alinement with the doors 7 and 8. These short air-tubes are provided with suitable valves or cut-offs, so that those at the bottom may be closed, while those at the top are open to supply fresh air to the interior of the float. The top and bottom of the float are also provided with dead-lights 17 located at points between the short tubes 17 and the doors 7 and 8. The central tube, which permits a signal to be displayed, is adapted to receive a mainmast 18 in rigging the float for sailing, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, and a foremast 19 may be stepped in eyes 20 of the bow of the float. The stern of the float is provided with eyes 21 for the reception of a pintle 22, which hinges a segmental rudder 23 to the float. The rudder extends from the top to the bottom of the float, and a tiller 24 may be applied to either end of it, so that the rudder may be operated when either the top or bottom of the float is uppermost. Suitable stays 25 are provided for supporting the rudder and preventing it from becoming lost, and these stays, which may consist of ropes or any other suitable flexible connections, extend from the rudder to opposite keels, as clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Extending around the sides and ends of the float is a series of air-tight compartments 26,

various other articles for the comfort of the occupants of the float. The float is also designed to be provided with an equipment of sails, oars-signals, and the like, and it has an exterior rib 1 located between its top and bottom and provided with openings 1", through which-a life-line may be rove. The bilge-keels are provided with openings and may have life-lines attached to them, if desired.

The invention has the following advansimilar top and bottom portions is adapted to be launched from any portion of a boat into heavy seas in any suitable manner, and either of the said portions is adapted to serve as a bottom for the float. It is adapted to carry with safety and comfort a larger number of passengers than an open boat, and it will shelter them and prevent them from being injured by exposure. It is adapted to be navigated when either of its hull portions is uppermost, and a tiller may be connected with the rudder in either position.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacriflcing any of the advantages of this invention.

What is claimed is- 1. A reversible life-float comprisinga closed shell consisting of side walls, and similar top and bottom portions connecting the side walls and having substantially flat exterior faces extending entirely across the float, and doors arranged, at the top andbottom of the float, substantially as described.

2. A life-float comprising a hollow shell composed of sides and substantially flat top and bottom portions connecting the sides and provided with doors, and a rudder arranged .at the stern of the float and extending from the top to the bottom thereof and adapted to have a tiller applied to either end of it, substantially as described. I

3. A life-float comprising a hollow shell having similar top and bottom portions and provided at opposite sides of the same with curved keels arranged at the edges of the shell, eyes arranged at the endsof the shell, the eyes of the bow being adapted to receive a mast when either the top or bottom of the float is uppermost, a central tube adapted to form a step for a mainmast, and a rudder adapted to be operated from either the top or bottom of the shell and hinged to the eyes of the stern of the float, substantially as de scribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LORING WILLIS MYERS.

Vitnesses:

W. T. CoMsTooK,

tages: The float by being closed and having R. S. MUGFORD. 

